A jury in a landmark social media addiction trial signaled on Friday that tech giants Meta and YouTube could face liability for allowing a young user to become addicted to their platforms, reports AFP.
The panel concluded its first full week of deliberations by asking the judge a question related to calculating damages—an indication that jurors may have already found one or both companies responsible. The case is widely expected to set a precedent for thousands of similar lawsuits across the United States.
“We don’t start dancing in the streets over what seems to be a good question,” said plaintiff’s attorney Mark Lanier. “But we’re encouraged that the jury is focusing on damages.”
Under the court’s instructions, jurors would only consider damages if they agreed that the platforms were negligently or harmfully designed and that users should have been warned of potential risks.
Deliberations began on March 13 and are set to resume Monday at a Los Angeles courthouse. So far, jurors have raised questions about the plaintiff’s family environment and her level of use of Meta-owned Instagram during childhood.
At the heart of the case is whether the mental health struggles of the plaintiff—a 20-year-old California woman identified as Kaley G.M.—were primarily caused by social media use or by difficult family circumstances.
Kaley testified that her exposure to YouTube and Instagram began at age six and eventually contributed to depression and suicidal thoughts. However, during cross-examination, she also described experiences of neglect and conflict within her family.
Jurors have been asked to determine whether Meta or YouTube knew—or should have known—that their platforms posed risks to children, and whether their design contributed significantly to the plaintiff’s condition.
If liability is established, the jury will decide whether the companies were “substantial factors” in causing harm and assess the amount of damages to be awarded.
Experts say the case underscores growing concerns about the impact of social media on vulnerable young users. “The platforms have to address the concerns of this important segment,” said Vanitha Swaminathan, a marketing professor at the University of Pittsburgh.
The lawsuit is one of hundreds accusing social media companies of fostering addictive behaviors among young users, potentially leading to depression, eating disorders, hospitalization, and even suicide.
Tech companies have long relied on legal protections under Section 230 of the US Communications Decency Act, which shields platforms from liability for user-generated content. However, this case argues that the platforms themselves are defective products, designed to maximize user engagement—even at the cost of mental health.
The outcome of the trial is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping how similar cases are handled in the future.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
